GB1563477A - Conveyors - Google Patents

Description

(54) CONVEYORS (71) We, LAMDEC CONSULTANTS LIMITED, a British company, of Bridge Lane, Frodsham, Warrington, WA6 7HN, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to conveyors.

The invention has one application to the conveying of one or more dissimilar feed materials and arranging that said materials are blended and heated or cooled during the course of conveying to provide a homogeneous liquid product.

One known form of simple conveyor comprises an elongate shell in which there is located an auger scroll, which conveys feed material from one end of the shell to the other. A drive is provided at one end of the shell for the scroll.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved form of said known conveyor which is compact and allows processing such as heating or cooling and mixing during the operation of conveying.

The conveyor according to the present invention comprises a pair of side-by-side tubular shells with an auger scroll in each shell and a drive for both scrolls situated at one end of the pair of shells so that the other ends are free for withdrawal of the scrolls from the shells without disturbing the drive, a feed inlet in one shell and a product outlet in the other shell so that flow takes place in opposite directions in the shells, flow connections between both shells so that a recirculation flow can be set up in the conveyor, and a jacket for at least one of the shells capable of accepting a fluid heat transfer medium.

One form of conveyor according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Fig. 1A shows a cross-sectional elevation of one end of one shell of the conveyor; Fig. 1B shows a cross-sectional elevation of the other end of said shell; Fig. 2A shows a plan view of one end of the conveyor; Fig. 2B shows a plan view of the other end of the conveyor; and Fig. 3 shows an end elevation of the conveyor.

The conveyor shown in the drawings comprises a pair of side-byWside tubular shells 10, 11 with respective auger scrolls 12, 13 A drive for the scrolls is provided by an electric motor 14, a gear reduction box 15, sprockets 16 at the end of each scroll and a chain 17 between the sprockets. The drive is situated at the right-hand ends of the pair of shells so that the left-hand ends are free for withdrawal of the scrolls from the shells without disturbing the drive.

The conveyor has an elongate feed inlet 18 in shell 10 and a product outlet pipe 19 in the shell 11. Flow connections 20, 21 are provided between shells 10 and 11 so that a re-circulation flow, such as can usefully be provided at start up just prior to product flow, can be set up in the conveyor. The shells have heating jackets 22, 23 for accepting a pressurised heat transfer medium such as steam for heating, or water for cooling if the feed materials should react exothermically in the conveyor.

In greater detail, each scroll has a full scroll portion 30 and an open scroll portion 31. At the downstream end of each scroll, and integral therewith, there is a scraper blade 32 to relieve pressure on sealing glands 36, 37. The scrolls are each supported on a shaft 33 which is carried in bearings 34, 35 and sealed in the shells at the glands 36, 37. A demountable coupling 38 is provided between each shaft 33 and its drive, the drive being indicated by shaft 39 associated with the motor 14 and box 15.

The shell 10 is provided with a vent 40 and the shell 11 is provided with a vent 41 and drain 42. Main flow is indicated by arrows 43 and re-circulation flow by arrows 44 In use a feed supplied at inlet 18 will be conveyed along shell 10 where it will take up heat and be blended and will then pass to shell 11, through connection 20, where it will receive further heat and blending and eventually discharge through outlet 19. By providing a back pressure at outlet 19, such as by closing or regulating a valve in the outlet, a re-circulation flow will be created through the connection 21.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A conveyor comprising a pair of side-by-side tubular shells with an auger scroll in each shell and a drive for both scrolls situated at one end of the pair of shells so that the other ends are free for withdrawal of the scrolls from the shells without disturbing the drive, a feed inlet in one shell and a product outlet in the other shell so that flow takes place in opposite directions in the shells, flow connections between both shells so that re-circulation flow can be set up in the conveyor, and a packet for at least one of the shells capable of accepting a fluid heat transfer medium.

2. A conveyor as claimed in claim 1 in which the jacket is capable of accepting pressurisation.

3. A conveyor as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the scrolls have a full portion for initiating flow along their respective shells and an open portion for conveying and mixing.

4. A scroll as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the scrolls have a scraper blade at their downstream ends.

5. A conveyor as claimed in any preceding claim in which the shells are vented.

6. A conveyor as claimed in any preceding claim including means to regulate the back pressure at the product outlet.

7. A conveyor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. arrows 43 and re-circulation flow by arrows 44 In use a feed supplied at inlet 18 will be conveyed along shell 10 where it will take up heat and be blended and will then pass to shell 11, through connection 20, where it will receive further heat and blending and eventually discharge through outlet 19. By providing a back pressure at outlet 19, such as by closing or regulating a valve in the outlet, a re-circulation flow will be created through the connection 21. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A conveyor comprising a pair of side-by-side tubular shells with an auger scroll in each shell and a drive for both scrolls situated at one end of the pair of shells so that the other ends are free for withdrawal of the scrolls from the shells without disturbing the drive, a feed inlet in one shell and a product outlet in the other shell so that flow takes place in opposite directions in the shells, flow connections between both shells so that re-circulation flow can be set up in the conveyor, and a packet for at least one of the shells capable of accepting a fluid heat transfer medium.

2. A conveyor as claimed in claim 1 in which the jacket is capable of accepting pressurisation.

3. A conveyor as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the scrolls have a full portion for initiating flow along their respective shells and an open portion for conveying and mixing.

4. A scroll as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the scrolls have a scraper blade at their downstream ends.

5. A conveyor as claimed in any preceding claim in which the shells are vented.

6. A conveyor as claimed in any preceding claim including means to regulate the back pressure at the product outlet.

7. A conveyor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.